THE CROWD:Stores open doors to host charity events

Laura’s House, a nonprofit organization dedicated to the prevention of domestic violence, took over the new View department at Bloomingdale’s Fashion Island store on Thursday evening. The charity fronted the reopening of the trendy boutique within Bloomie’s, bringing in the local crowd for fashion, food and fun for a worthy cause.

South Coast Winery Resort & Spa in Temecula donated the party’s wine, which accompanied a delectable array of appetizers, including apple-wood smoked salmon in philo baskets, grilled chicken pesto panini, caprice salad in cones and the latest in trendy appetizers: a mac-and-cheese cupcake.

An in-store fashion show featured the designs of Ellen Tracy, DKNY, Tahari, Burberry, Dana Buchman and the Ralph Lauren Black Label, to name only a few. Models paraded among the crowd for an up-close-and-personal look at the season’s fashions.

Bloomingdale’s donated 100% of the evening’s proceeds and 10% of the sales to Laura’s House, raising more than $10,000 for the shelter, which provides a safe haven for women and children subjected to domestic violence. More than 200 women and children every year receive residential shelter services through Laura’s House, with another several thousand local citizens availing themselves of everything from legal services to crisis counseling. For more information on Laura’s House, call (949) 361-3775.

College football legend Lou Holtz is set to be the keynote speaker at the 20th annual Circle 1000 Founders Brunch on May 21. Founded in 1988 by Newport activist Sandy Sewell, Circle 1000 has raised millions of dollars to support Hoag Memorial Hospital Presbyterian cancer programs.

The annual brunch is something of a spiritual experience, as cancer survivors, family members, friends and medical professionals get together to share stories and information.

Holtz, formerly the head football coach at Notre Dame, provides on-air analysis for ESPN on the college football circuit. He is considered one of the top motivational speakers in the U.S. His wife, Beth, battled stage IV squamous cell throat cancer and is a 10-year survivor. For more information on the Circle 1000 Founders Brunch, call the Hoag Hospital Foundation at (949) 764-7200.

The Orange County Museum of Art will present Art of Dining 2007 on May 11 at the St. Regis Resort in Monarch Beach. Art of Dining attracts a diverse crowd of generous donors dedicated to the promotion of visual culture in Orange County. It has become known as one of the pre-eminent dinner events on the Orange Coast, raising in excess of $500,000 every year for the museum in Newport Beach.

Another part of the Art of Dining tradition has been the honoring of an artist of international prominence at each annual event. This year, Mary Heilmann, a pioneer of abstract painting combining influences from both East and West coast cultures, will be the guest of honor at Art of Dining, followed by a May 20 opening at the museum that features the first retrospective of her work. Chaired by Newport’s Marsha Anderson and Joan Riach, the party promises to be an elegant evening on the Pacific coast. Orange County Museum of Art Director Dennis Szakacs will be on hand with curators Elizabeth Armstrong, Karen Moss and Aimee Chang. The distinguished committee of support includes Ronnie Allumbaugh, Barbara Bowie, Sally Crockett, Barbara Glabman, Pat Hancock, Maralou Harrington, Michelle Janavs, Lilly Merage, Suzanne Mellor, Pat Neisser and Valaree Wahler. For more information on Art of Dining and to make reservations, call Ashley Eckenweiler at (949) 759-1122, ext. 232.

The Pegasus School in Huntington Beach will be the beneficiary of a fashion show April 21 at South Coast Plaza. The Benetton boutique will host the event at 2 p.m. in Carousel Court. Following the show, Benetton will offer a 10% store discount.

On April 26, Saks Fifth Avenue at South Coast Plaza will throw a lavish spring fashion trend event also benefiting the Pegasus School and honoring its benefit committee members. A champagne brunch will be served in addition to modeling and a spring trend presentation. For more information, please contact Susan Paek at (714) 296-8858.

Lido Isle’s dedicated Nancy Levy joins fellow Bahia Corinthian Yacht Club member Pat Dwight in producing the yacht club’s Leukemia Cup Regatta. The fun begins May 11 with an electric boat poker run sponsored by Duffy Electric Boats. On May 19 the yacht club will host a casino night dinner and auction. Finally, on May 20, three races will raise funds to support leukemia research. Call Nancy Levy at (949) 645-9898 or Pat Dwight at (949) 494-0424 to volunteer or to find out more.

An amazing 7,000 athletes and spectators turned out for the Fletcher Jones Motorcars-sponsored Spirit Run in Newport Beach. More than $80,000 was raised to benefit local public elementary schools. Events included 5K and 10K races and a health exposition. One of America’s top runners, Steve Scott, was on hand for the event joining Newport sports agent Leigh Steinberg in rallying the community. Garth Blumenthal, general manager of Fletcher Jones Motorcars, said, “The Spirit Run has long been one of our favorite local fundraisers, as it provides a much-needed wave of support for our local schools.”

runs Thursdays and Saturdays.